Pressure is mounting on the government to overhaul the rules governing yellow box junctions, with a new petition gaining significant traction among motorists.
Petition Calls for Driver Leniency
A public petition has now garnered the support of 10,000 drivers who are urging the Labour Party government to implement major changes to the law. The petition, created in January 2026, explicitly calls on ministers to "change the law around box junctions to give drivers more leniency."
The campaign highlights a report which suggested that many yellow box junctions are on average 50% larger than necessary. It argues that the current regulations may be exploited by some authorities primarily as a revenue-raising tool, with little evidence they improve traffic flow.
Key Demands of the Campaign
The petition sets out several specific proposals for reform. The central demand is the introduction of a 10-second grace period before a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) can be issued for a box junction infringement.
Other requested changes include:
- An exemption for vehicles turning right, provided they are not causing an obstruction.
- A legal amendment to ensure yellow boxes are no bigger than strictly necessary and are only placed at signalised junctions.
- A requirement for all existing and new box junctions to have formal traffic orders, making them subject to public consultation.
- An update to the Highway Code so its wording precisely matches the legal regulations (TSRGD).
The Road to Parliamentary Debate
For a petition to be considered for debate in the UK Parliament, it must reach 100,000 signatures. The campaign for yellow box junction reform is currently one-tenth of the way towards this threshold. If it succeeds, MPs will be compelled to discuss the proposed changes in the House of Commons.
Yellow box junctions are a common traffic management feature designed to keep junctions clear for through-traffic, preventing gridlock. They are also crucial for ensuring emergency vehicles, such as fire engines, can exit stations unimpeded.
Current rules state that a driver may only enter a yellow box when their exit is clear and there is sufficient space for their vehicle to leave the box without stopping. The only exception is when turning right, where a driver may wait within the box if prevented from turning by oncoming traffic or other vehicles also waiting to turn.
Motoring organisations frequently advise drivers not to be pressured by following vehicles into a box if a clear exit is not available, as this is a common cause of penalties.
